Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently approved a master plan to develop Da Nang’s Son Tra Peninsula into a national-level tourism area by 2025 with a vision towards 2030.  By 2030, the area will have become a high-end holiday and eco-tourism centre for the south-central coast region, and the country as a whole.

A corner of the Son Tra Peninsula

During his recent interview with reporter Thu Ha from the DA NANG Newspaper, municipal Department of Tourism Deputy Director Tran Chi Cuong remarked that the master plan will help to create an important legal framework for further promoting tourism investment activities on the peninsula.  In particular, the city is aiming to host 4.6 million visitors in 2030, and to earn about 4,300 billion VND from tourism.  Job opportunities are expected to be created for about 2,800 local job seekers.

Deputy Director Cuong

Deputy Director Cuong noted that the peninsula is now home to such popular tourist attractions as the Linh Ung Pagoda, the 1000-year-old banyan tree, a lighthouse, the Chessboard Peak, and a wartime helipad.  However, the peninsula’s tourism development potential has yet to be fully tapped.  Therefore, the city is now developing specific plans to develop the tourism market and special products on the peninsular.

In detail, more appeals will be made for domestic and FDI inflows into projects for creating special tourism products, with a focus on developing a spiritual, ecological, adventure sports, and beach holiday tourism area for both locals and visitors.  More tours to the peninsula will also be provided for locals and visitors to enjoy its beautiful landscapes and gain an insight into its cultural and historical values.  Also, there will be sightseeing trips linking with the Marble Mountains, the Nam Hai Van landscape protection area, the Ba Na Hills Resort, and other adjacent areas.

Deputy Director Cuong revealed that the red-shanked douc langurs living on the peninsula are likely to become the brand identity of the tourism area because this animal has been chosen as Da Nang’s official mascot for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders’ Week in November.  Also, a special agency exclusively for organising and managing tourism promotion activities on the peninsula will be established, featuring qualified and talented staff members.

A view of the peninsula from above

Under the newly-approved master plan, importance will be attached to fostering the peninsula’s tourism development in a sustainable manner, in combination with conserving the biological diversity of the Son Tra Nature Reserve.  Top priority will be given to protecting various species of flora and fauna in the forest, especially the red-shanked douc langur which is listed in Viet Nam’s Red Book and is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

In addition, special heed will be paid to ensuring national security and defence whilst deploying the tourism development projects because the peninsula has a special geopolitical position. 

Greater efforts will also be made to raise public awareness of promoting the peninsula’s tourism image and effectively exploiting its tourism potential and strengths in accordance with the master plan.

Deputy Director Cuong added that the city authorities will carefully select domestic and foreign investors and their projects to make sure they meet the requirements of the master plan, and keep a close eye on the deployment of new projects in the future.